Business Financing and the Capital Structure Essay Example for Free

Business Financing and the Capital Structure Essay The financial marketplace is the area where companies engaged in financial trading are able to get capital to run. The financial market can also be referred to as capital markets. Stock markets are the place where companies come to trade among themselves; they represent individual investors or corporate investors. Trade in stocks has been deemed among the most lucrative areas a person can trade in; the returns are good. Stocks can simply be defined as shares bought for trading purposes and profits gained are ploughed back into the U. S. economy. (Saccomani and Chambers, 2008) Trade in U.S. financial markets offer various benefits; an organization can get loans to fund their activities through floating of bonds. When organizations are able to run efficiently then everybody gets to benefit, the government benefits through increased tax collection and more people get employed. The stock market offer individuals an avenue to put their money in lucrative stock instruments where the funds are managed by financial experts. Individuals do not have to worry about their limited financial expertise because at the stock markets well informed brokers or their employees will help them. Individuals are offered a variety of trading avenues which involves minimal labor and less capital intensive. (Saccomani and Chambers, 2008) The Federal Reserve is a name that is used to define the Central Bank in America. The bank was a creation of U.S. Congress for purpose of offering a safer and easier trading environment in America. The Fed is tasked with the management of the American monetary policy. They also regulate banks as well as monitoring risks at the stock markets. The Fed is comprised of seven members; who constitute the board of governors. Members of the board also constitute the F.O.M.C. (Federal Open Markets Committee); this committee decides on what interest rates to be charged by banks as well as purchase of treasuries. The Fed`s primary role is that of regulation. (Ltaifa et al, 2009) The Fed chairman`s role is that of a supervisor; he is tasked with the role of bringing the board to consensus of various monetary issues. The chairman is a presidential appointee hence he reports to the president from time to time on the country`s financial matters. The chairman also has the responsibility of steering the committee on interest rates. (Ltaifa et al, 2009) Departments or components of the Fed Reserve need to play their respective roles effectively so as to take the country in to financial success. The chairman should always maintain a steady control of all fiscal policies. The board should not enact self-centered policies that may endanger the banking sector or stock markets. The board and the chairman have to make prudent assessments of U.S. financial performance before taking any steps meant at changing any monetary policy. Interest rates affect the economy; particularly the spending power of individuals. The rates charged on bank loans lays a heavy burden on citizens; the net effect is loans become expensive hence doing business becomes harder. Higher interest rates on returns at the stock markets offer a reversed effect to the citizen; this brings about more disposable income because the return on investment is higher. (Batten and Szilagvi, 2011) The world suffers when markets get affected by whatever elements; this happens because the various economies around the world are interconnected hence any financial downfall of one will weaken the other. The Euro zone crisis is one such example where a problem begins in one country but after sometime affects a number of countries within same geographical location; countries that trade together. In the U.S. such a crisis occurred between 2007-2010, individuals found themselves not being able to finance their loans and other credit obligations. Care and keenness is needed when one wishes to traverse this terrain. References Saccomanni, F., Chambers, A. (2008).  Managing international financial instability: National tamers versus global tigers. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. Ltaifa, Navil Ben, Kaendera, Stella, Dixit, S. V. S. (2009).  Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Exchange Rates and Policies in Sub-saharan Africa. Intl Monetary Fund. Batten, J., Szilagyi, P. G. (2011).  The impact of the global financial crisis on emerging financial markets. Bingley, U.K: Emerald. Source document

Ernest Hemingway :: essays papers

Ernest Hemingway In this paper, I will describe what critics have to say about Ernest Hemingway^s novel The Sun Also Rises and his short story A clean well-Light Place. First I will describe the basic plot of the story, then go one to describe each of the characters by what the critics have to say about them. I will start off with the main character and narrator Jake Barnes. Then go to Lady Brett Ashley, Robert Cohn, Pedro Romero, and finally I will fish off that section with a little about Bill Gordon. Then I will describe a little of how Ernest Hemingway^s characters fit into what critics have to say about the story. After that, I will then go into describing how the four American Themes were used in the novel. After that, I will evaluate the criticism of the book using one or two quotes from the book. >From there, I go into my next literary work. I describe the basic plot of A Clean Well-Light place. Then I describe the themes of the story. I then go on to describing the criticism, or at least what I could find on the short story. I continue with my evaluation of the criticism of the book. Also using one or two quotes. I conclude my paper by giving my evaluation of each of the works, and evaluating the author^s style, content, and themes. In The Sun Also Rises, meet Jake Barnes, the main character and narrator of the novel. He and his friend Robert Cohn meet a lady named Lady Brett. Here is the story of their adventure. In The Sun Also Rises, a group of young Americans move to Paris after World War I. Jake Barnes, a newspaperman who is in love with Lady Brett Ashley, Robert Cohn, a Jewish former Princeton student who was outcast, Lady Brett Ashley, an older Englishwoman who also love Jake Barnes, but can^t consummate their love because he was wounded in his genitals. As they travel through Paris drinking and sitting at cafes, they met up with Brett^s fianc Mike Campbell and his friend Bill Gorton. Jake plans a trip to Pamplona, Spain for a festival full of bullfighting and the running of the bulls. Before everyone got to Spain, Mike, Brett and Robert already being there, Mike and Brett decided to take a side trip to San Sebastian. Robert followed them like a lovesick puppy. While in Spain they met up with a bullfighter

Feminism in Islamic countries

Argument Feminism in Islamic countries is probably among the sharpest issues nowadays, as the religious tradition to be broken is time-honored and legally enforced in the present day. Saba Mahmood, who originated from the state of this category, explores this situation from inside (Wadud, 2006) in her writings in general and her book â€Å"Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject† in particular.The paper is intended to study her argument in details and provide a critical response. The Saba Mahmood’s writing offers an interesting perspective on Islamic feminism – the so-called piety movement or Islamic revival. I would like to challenge this concept, as the term ‘feminism’ lies in a different dimension from the mosque movement. First of all, feminism refers to the movement, established by women and aimed at achieving equality in all spheres of social life: career, education, suffrage, marital life and so forth.This means, female s seek to raise their social status and gain the right to manifest their views and engage into different activities on the same basis as males do. Mahmood unfairly call the female participants of the Islamic revival â€Å"feminists†, as this movement was primarily initiated by Muslim males, who wished to reinforce their dominative position at the time of globalization and gradual egalitarization in terms of gender.In addition, Islam is a masculine religion that seeks to curb woman’s entitlement even in the most primitive daily routines (like walking alone around the city), i. e. it restricts her liberty – that’s why most feminists are known as secular. The Islamic revival is described in the following way: â€Å"Practically, this means instructing Muslims not only in the proper performance of religious duties and acts of worship but, more importantly, in how to organize their daily conduct in accord with principles of Islamic piety and virtuous behaviorà ¢â‚¬  (Mahmood, at press. princeton. edu, 2006, p. 5).These rules and daily activities must include one vital component: female’s obedience and observance of traditional androcenrtic principles, widely rejected by contemporary feminists, as such prescriptions are unlikely to result in the establishment of gender equality. As one can understand, the participants of the Islamic revival pursue to great extent converse goals, pointing to the increase of overall piety in Egyptian society. Due to this substantial divergence in opinions and attitudes it would be incorrect to characterize the women, who actively engage into the piety movement, as feminists, despite their active social position.On the other hand, I agree with the notion of women’s agency in Islamic countries, as numerous investigations have already proved that there are certain areas of life, which belong exceptionally to females: â€Å"Through a rich ethnography of women’s cultic practices, Boddy prop oses that in a society where the â€Å"official ideology† of Islam is dominated and controlled by men, the zar practice might be understood as a space of subordinate discourse† (Mahmood, at press.princeton. edu, 2006, p. 8). Mahmood therefore writes about the women’s secreted resistance to androcentrism, but the notion of feminism refers to broad manifestation of such opposition. Another questionable notion that relates to feminism is positive freedom: â€Å"Positive freedom is understood as the capacity to realize an autonomous will, one generally fashioned in accord with the dictates of universal reason.. † (Mahmood, at press. princeton. edu, 2006, p. 12).The scholar suggests that positive freedom is a domineering concept in feminism, as true liberty can be brought about only by the ability to understand and realize one’s own true will. On the other hand, this concept, in my, opinion, is valid only in European or Western-oriented countries, as Chr istianity as a religion and ideology supports such a deep and thorough search for one’s ‘self’ regardless of gender, i. e. Western religions are more egalitarian in this sense, comparing to Islam, which, in turn, assists only males in their self-discovery, whereas females are traditionally viewed as property in this doctrine.This means, Muslim females are not always able to realize their true will, as they have been brought up in the spirit of complete obedience and inequality since their early childhood. Due to the fact that feminism in Islamic countries is currently being at relatively lower stage of development, it would be more appropriate to apply the principle of negative freedom, or absence of restraints and numerous taboos in such countries, as the elimination of objective (social, political and cultural) bounds is the first step to cognitive liberation.Another important message conveyed by the scholar is following: â€Å"if the ability to effect change in the world and in oneself is historically and culturally specific [†¦], then the meaning and sense of agency cannot be fixed in advance, but must emerge through an analysis of the particular concepts that enable specific modes of being, responsibility and efficacy† (Mahmood, at press.princeton. edu, 2006, p. 15-16). This means, in order to initiate certain social change, it is particularly important to learn the cultural context within which the transformation will occur. In fact, cultural literacy and the ability to evaluate certain phenomena, which exist in certain culture from the position of this tradition, are important, as they allow preserving national identity.The only note to be done is that situational approach is relevant in any situation, so that sometimes it is necessary to perform radical intervention – for instance, if certain (hypothetical) nation suddenly introduces a violent practice (legalization of homicide or infanticide), it would be unwise to conduct a scrupulous analysis of the cultural context and the causes of such an inhumane innovation – on the contrary, more conscientious nations should interfere into the situation and resolve it in accordance with international legislation.Such cases of emergency should therefore be approached from more radical standpoint. Furthermore, Mahmood challenges the notion that the Islamic revival is a strategy, employer to resist the Westernization of the corresponding states: â€Å"While this interpretation is not entirely wrong and captures an important aspect of Islamist movements, it nonetheless reduces their complexity to the trope of resistance†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Mahmood, at press. princeton.edu, 2006, p. 15-16). The scholar does not adopt the term ‘resistance’ , but the issue she discusses in her book, females’ participation in the piety restoration, can be characterized as the opposition to classical European and American feminism that seeks to separate social life from religious rituals (Madud, 2006) and create new (and, more importantly, extensive) opportunities for women in terms of career development and university education.On the contrary, the Islamic movement is aimed at providing women with a ‘narrow’ chance to access mosque not merely as ‘parishioners’, but also as ‘preachers’. Nevertheless, the foundation of the piety restoration and the issues in Western feminism can be approached independently , as local events, reflecting the peculiarities of certain nation.The author suggests that the piety movement has certain political functions: â€Å"The political efficacy of this these movements is, I would suggest, a function of the work they perform in the ethical realm† (Mahmood, at press. princeton. edu, 2006, p. 37). In my opinion, Mahmood overstresses the importance of the mentioned movement in political discourse: although it operates in the sphere of ethics and to great exten t modifies the nation’s cognitive constructs and convictions, it is not directly involved into the current state of political affairs.Thus, the movement, being completely clerical, is not capable of intervening into the politics in the present day – and due to the fact that Islamic countries are now influenced by numerous powers and their development is therefore dynamic and unpredictable, it will be possible to assert the penetration of piety restoration into politics only after its members gain access to political power or achieve the introduction of ‘piety policy’ at governmental level – otherwise the efforts within the realm of ethics might appear in vain.The most doubtful argument of Mahmood’s writing is her confidence in the broad perspectives of the Islamic revival: due to the fact that women are nowadays entitled to serve in mosques (sacred places, or male domain) as ‘preachers’, they are likely to expand their political influence in the future. On the other hand, the nature of this revival points to the desirable abstention from politics, as the pure concept of female virtuousness to great extent excludes the woman’s participation in the affairs of the state.Clearly, the idea of neo-piety teaches females to behave in strict accordance with religious prescriptions and demonstrate modesty and humility, but these qualities are unlikely to enhance the person’s access to power. Historically, women were allowed to serve as priestesses in ancient, but this fact gave them no benefits except prestige – the situation seems to recur.To sum up, Saba Mahmood basically tries to link two incompatible issues – feminism and the piousness renewal, which, as I deem, operate in completely different dimensions. In addition, the scholar suggests that the penetration into the religious system is the primary prerequisite for women’s access to politics, yet it is still unclear in which wa y the movement will modify the existing ethical matrix so that it determines their ‘political weight’.Works cited Mahmood, S. Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2005. Available online at: http://press. princeton. edu/chapters/s7888. pdf, 2006 Wadud, A. â€Å"Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject (review)†. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, vol. 74 (3), September 2006: pp. 815-818

The True Nature Of Human Nature In Mark Twain And The...

The true nature of human action remains as an enigma for many and it is question whose answer is everywhere in the civilization that we have all collectively built. The author Jane Austen in persuasion believes that each person is self serving and kind when it s in their best interest. Contrary to Austens’ belief, Mark Twain withâ€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer† shows a more optimistic view of human nature where the guilt and sense of sympathy are the driving emotions behind every action. Similarly, in the novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith identifies the empathy and duty as a primary cause for the kindness in each person. Every person is hardwired to be a social and inherently good person driven by the emotional consequences and†¦show more content†¦The same could be applied possible fatal situations of danger.Huckleberry Finn was an abused child who was never treated well by the townspeople but when he heard Injun Joe want to â€Å"slit [Widow D ouglas’] nostrils and notch her ears like a sow† Huck â€Å"felt silence†¦ more awful than any amount of murderous talk† and precariously ran and reported it to Welshman. Huckleberry Finn saw that he was in the presence of a criminal act and a possible homicide taking place and he could have hid away and made sure that he was not found by the perpetrators and that they will not come to take revenge in him upon learning his involvement in their incarcerations. In light of all the dangers that his actions would bring him he suppresses such thoughts and insteads thinks about the well being of a person who he did not owe anything or know very well. Consequently, his natural instinct made him run toward that Welshman to report the crime while aware that his stumbles may tip them of his presence and may lead to his death. Poverty is and has been an issue for the majority of human history but that lack of resource and struggle to live where one could even be excuse d for being selfish is where miracles of humanitarianism and empathy for each others pain is shown. The loss of a family member especially the largest wage earner leads to potential starvation and a sense of hopelessness. In the case of Francie Nolan and her brother Neeley, a close friend of theirShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Mark Twain s The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer As Well1350 Words   |  6 Pages Mark Twain is one of the foremost satire writers, and he is well-known for uses his sense of humor to criticize the 19th society in America’s and propagate his ideal world through The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. People commented Twain as â€Å"Twain does not confine himself to telling a simple children s story. He is, as always, the satirist and commentator on the foibles of human nature†(Roberts), Twain does use his sense of satire in the classical America book: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer as well.Read MoreMark Twains Huckleberry Finn Essay1708 Words   |  7 PagesMark Tw ains Huckleberry Finn The novel is set in the 1930s in St. Petersburg, a fictitious place supposedly reminiscent of the town of Hannibal, Missouri the place where Mark Twain grew up. It follows the events in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, also of the same author. CHARACTERS Huck Finn. Huckleberry Finn or Huck Fin is the protagonist of the story. A dynamic character, he is a liar and sometimes a thief. In Tom Sawyers book, he is a vagabond with a drunkard father. In this bookRead MoreMark Twain s Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn1562 Words   |  7 PagesMark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) Introduction Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835- April 21, 1910), commonly known as Mark Twain was an American writer whose works act as social commentary on issues including racism, poverty and class distinctions. His most distinguished novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885) convey the vanquished way of life in the pre-Civil War Mississippi Valley and life on the river. His unpretentious, colloquialRead MoreAdventures of Huckleberry Finn- Analysis1012 Words   |  5 Pagesto sort their thoughts. Nature can often provide comfort by providing a nurturing surrounding where a child is forced to look within and choices can be made untainted by society. Mark Twain once said Dont let school get in the way of your education. 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By using satire, he humorously draws attention to some issues faced in American culture and other places around the world. A perfect example of his use of satire is his novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain’s widely read novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn uses satire as a tool to expose a few key issues faced in America, which are organized religion, violence in A merican culture, human ignorance and gullibility. In 1861, Mark Twain visited Salt Lake CityRead MoreAnalysis of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Essay3051 Words   |  13 Pagesliterature is Mark Twain. He is also one of the leading figures who make deep impact on American literature. As his fellow-the writer Hemingway says Mark Twain creates the greatest American character in the greatest American book. One of his most interesting novels is The adventures of Tom Sawyer which gives me the deepest impression. The story is about a boys adventures only, but under Mark Twain talent pen, it becomes attractive to both children and grown-ups. Through Tom Sawyer, a self-indulgentRead MoreMark Twain3000 Words   |  12 Pagesï » ¿ Mark Twain’s Impact on American Literature. Multi-Genre Research Paper Table of Contents: Prologue†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.†¦.3 Expository Research†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.4-6 Multi-Genre Project†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7-12 Epilogue†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..13 Works Cited †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 Prologue. When I was thinking about the topic for my research paper I could not come up with any ideas. Then I looked through my entire English binder andRead MoreEssay on The Importance of Mark Twain in American Literature840 Words   |  4 PagesThe Importance of Mark Twain in American Literature Mark Twain is important to American literature because of his novels and how they portray the American experience. Some of his best selling novels were Innocents Abroad, Life on the Mississippi, Huckleberry Finn, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. In these books, Mark Twain recalls his own adventures of steamboating on the Mississippi River. Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on November 30, 1835 in a small village of Florida, MissouriRead MoreHuckleberry Finn - the Controversial Ending2199 Words   |  9 PagesThe Adventures of Huck Finn-The Controversial Ending The novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has stirred up much controversy over such topics as racism, prejudice and gender indifference, but the brunt of the criticism has surrounded itself around the ending, most notably with the re-entry of Tom Sawyer. Some people viewed the ending as a bitter disappointment, as shared by people such as Leo Marx. The ending can also be viewed with success, as argued by such people as Lionel Trilling